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The four people who died in a massive avalanche in the Tyrol region of Austria on Wednesday were from Switzerland, Swiss and Austrian media have reported.

The identity of the victims has not yet been officially confirmed by the Swiss foreign office, however local Austrian paper Tiroler Tageszeitung said the group of eight ski-tourers, four of whom died, were Swiss.

A Tyrol police spokesman confirmed that the group were from German-speaking Switzerland, reported Le Matin.

The avalanche occurred shortly after midday on the 2,450m Jochgrub mountain above the village of Schmirn and was described by the head of the avalanche alarm service as being “of gigantic proportions”.

“It is likely the group triggered the avalanche themselves,” Rudi Mair told the Tiroler Tageszeitung.

Four of the group survived, while three bodies were pulled out of the snow. The fourth victim's body was recovered several hours later under 12 metres of snow, according to the paper.